[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 10 February 2011

[Ron Tozer]

More birders this week resulted in a few more birds being reported.

Black-backed Woodpecker.: female at West Rose Lake on Mizzy Lake
trail on February 5.

Northern Shrike: One was around the Visitor Centre feeders briefly on
February 9.

Gray Jay: reported at Spruce Bog Boardwalk entrance, Visitor
Centre, Opeongo Road and West Rose Lake.

Boreal Chickadee: two or three were at suet and sunflower seeds at
Spruce Bog Boardwalk, providing great photographic opportunities for
those who waited for them to appear. The suet is on a tree on your left
as you approach the trail register box after the first short boardwalk. The
birds are often absent for long periods but have been feeding on the suet
regularly.

Pine Grosbeak: two were on Highway 60 near Leaf Lake Ski Trail
(km 53.9) on February 6. As predicted in Ron Pittaway's Winter Finch
Forecast, this species has been very scarce here this winter.

Common Redpoll: up to 30 were feeding on the sunflower seed at the
entrance to the Spruce Bog Boardwalk and there were about 40
at the Visitor Centre feeders this week.



American Marten: one or two are coming irregularly to the Visitor
Centre feeders.

Moose: one or two were reported along the highway this week,
including a young bull with antlers near Jake Lake on February 9.
Some young bulls will retain their antlers for several more weeks.




Good birding this week. Please let us know what you see so we
can enter your sightings in our Visitor Centre records.



Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, ON

Directions:
Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400,
11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400.
>From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60
to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from
the West Gate (km 0) to near the East Gate (km 56). Get your park
permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned
here) at the gates.
 
The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings, feeders, and
information. The centre and restaurant are open weekends from 10 am
to 4 pm. During the week, birders may be able to enter the centre by
the service entrance (far right as you face the building) to view the
feeders. Contact staff for permission.
 
Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at:
www.algonquinpark.on.ca



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birding organization.
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For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

[Ontbirds] Horned Grebe

[Andy Morgan]

Thursday 3PM

Horned Grebe in the creek that runs from Windermere Basin under Eastport
Drive. It was in the creek on the QEW side of Eastport Drive. I believe it's
close to the Woodward Drive exit from QEW Niagara. I got there from
Lakeshore Road in Burlington to Beach Boulevard to Eastport Drive.
Andy Morgan
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birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending February 10, 2011.

[Fred Helleiner]

With air temperatures consistently well below freezing and snow drifts 
making walking difficult off the ploughed roads, birding at Presqu'ile 
Provincial Park is still typical of mid-winter.  However, a few birds 
have begun to appear in parts of the Park where they have been absent up 
till now, and at least one species of spring migrant has re-appeared.


On four of the last seven days, there have been TRUMPETER SWANS (up to 
four) and TUNDRA SWANS (up to nine) in Presqu'ile Bay.  Several dozen 
REDHEADS are also there.  A LESSER SCAUP was seen off Gull Island.  The 
best bet for finding one or more WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS is off Salt Point, 
but eight were seen off Gull Island.  Every day for the past week, the 
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE that has been off the lighthouse for over two months 
has been present. 

Four BALD EAGLES (three adults and an immature) were seen at one time on 
High Bluff Island, and three (one adult and two immatures) were near the 
lighthouse today.   A COOPER'S HAWK was the only other raptor seen this 
week.  RING-BILLED GULLS have begun trickling in, a sure sign of 
spring.  About 20 were off the amphitheatre on February 6, and for the 
past two days about fifteen have been near the lighthouse, using the 
scaup to bring food up from below.  Two GLAUCOUS GULLS  were on the ice 
of Presqu'ile Bay on February 7, and one is there among three other gull 
species as this is being typed.


A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was at two different feeders this week.  Two 
COMMON RAVENS were flying around all one morning.  The BOREAL CHICKADEE 
along Bayshore Road had not been reported for some time but was 
re-discovered this morning in the spruces at # 72 and 73.  A BROWN 
CREEPER was seen near the lighthouse.  The CAROLINA WREN at 186 Bayshore 
Road has been making frequent visits to the feeders every day.  At 83 
Bayshore Road, there are AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, WHITE-THROATED 
SPARROWS, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.  Thirty SNOW BUNTINGS were on 
Gull Island.  The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD flock on Bayshore Road reached a 
high count of 14 birds last weekend.  Small flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS 
have been in various places this week.  They bear watching for possible 
HOARY REDPOLLS.


To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. 
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid 
that is available at the Park gate.   The narrow channel between Owen 
Point and Gull Island is now ice-covered most of the time, but the ice, 
while appearing to be thick, might not support the weight of a human. 
However, the water beneath the crust, if there is any, is only 
ankle-deep. The surrounding shoreline can be very slippery.  At any 
time, it is wise to stay off the shore ice.  According to the only 
birders known to have ventured to Gull Island recently, there are now 
deep drifts to be navigated.  Birders are encouraged to record their 
observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground 
office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird 
report for species not listed there.


Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be 
directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca.


--
Fred Helleiner

186 Bayshore Road,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309 
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. 



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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial 
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

[Ontbirds] WNY Buffalo Bird Report 10 Feb 2011

[dfsuggs]

- RBA
* New York
* Buffalo
* 02/11/2011
* NYBU1102.10
- Birds mentioned
  ---
 Please submit email to dfsuggs localnet com
 ---

 HOARY REDPOLL
 YELLOW-R. WARBLER
 RED-THROATED LOON
 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
 Pied-billed Grebe
 Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe
 Eared Grebe
 Great Blue Heron
 Tundra Swan
 Greater Scaup
 White-winged Scoter
 Ruddy Duck
 Bald Eagle
 Little Gull
 Iceland Gull
 Glaucous Gull
 Short-eared Owl
 Northern Flicker
 Pileated Woodpecker
 American Robin
 Northern Shrike
 Amer. Tree Sparrow
 White-thr. Sparrow
 White-cr. Sparrow
 Lapland Longspur
 Snow Bunting
 Pine Siskin
 American Goldfinch

- Transcript
 Hotline: Buffalo Bird Report at the Buffalo Museum of Science
 Date: 02/10/2011
 Number:   716-896-1271
 To Report:Same
 Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs localnet com)
 Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario
 Website:  www.BuffaloOrnithologicalSociety.org

 Thursday, February 10, 2011

 [Note the phone line at the science museum is still out of  order, 
apparently awaiting a service call]


 The Buffalo Bird Report is a service provided by your  Buffalo Museum 
of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological  Society. Press (2) to leave 
a message, (3) for updates,  meeting and field trip information and (4) 
for instructions  on how to report sightings. To contact the Science 
Museum,  call 896-5200.


 Highlights of reports received February 3 through February  10 from 
the Niagara Frontier Region include HOARY REDPOLL,  YELLOW-R. WARBLER, 
RED-THROATED LOON and RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK.


 February 5 at a feeder in the Niagara County Town of Wilson,  a 
solitary HOARY REDPOLL. In the Town of Orchard Park, a  YELLOW-R. 
WARBLER continues at a suet feeder with an  uncommon in winter NORTHERN 
FLICKER. Also in Orchard Park, 2  PINE SISKINS with a flock of AMERICAN 
GOLDFINCHES.


 February 5 and 6 at the mouth of the Niagara River off Fort  Niagara 
State Park, 23 RED-THROATED LOONS, over 200 WHITE-

 WINGED SCOTERS, HORNED GREBE and GLAUCOUS GULL.

 Rare in winter, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS in the Genesee County  Town of 
Darien - a pair on Warner Road and a single on  Mammot Road. PILEATED 
WOODPECKER and 52 AMERICAN ROBINS also  in Darien.


 A good season for widespread SNOW BUNTINGS continues. The  flock of 
over 1000 was reported again on Yougstown-Wilson  Road near Fisk Road 
in Wilson, and in the Genesee County  Town of Bethany, several flocks 
of up to 250 SNOW BUNTINGS  on McLernon Road. A few LAPLAND LONGSPURS 
usually found  among the SNOW BUNTINGS.


 Just east of the BOS region [I believe], at Black Creek  bridge in 
East Bethany, a good winter count of 7 WHITE-CR.  SPARROWS with AMER. 
TREE SPARROWS and WHITE-thr. SPARROWS.


 February 6, SHORT-EARED OWL and NORTHERN SHRIKE still on  Posson Road 
in the Town of Shelby, just north of the  Iroquois Refuge.


 Recent reports from the Dunkirk Harbor winter oasis - PIED-
 BILLED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, EARED GREBE,  TUNDRA 
SWAN, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RUDDY DUCK, first winter  LITTLE GULL, 
ICELAND GULL and up to 9 BALD EAGLES.


 And from the upper Niagara River - a pair of adult BALD  EAGLES on 
Strawberry Island, GREAT BLUE HERONS at Motor  Island, several hundred 
TUNDRA SWANS off Beaver Island State  Park, and thousands of waterfowl, 
primarily GREATER SCAUP,  on the east river branch between Grand Island 
and Tonawanda.


 The Bird Report will be updated Thursday evening, February  17. 
Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may  report 
sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and  reporting.


- End Transcript



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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial 
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

[Ontbirds] Bird Studies Canada - Wetland Survey Field Crew Positions Available for the Lower Great Lakes

[Kathy Jones]

Wetland Survey Field Crew Positions Available for the Lower Great Lakes

Bird Studies Canada seeks two Wetland Bird and Amphibian Survey Technicians to 
work as part of a two-person traveling field crew. The field crew will survey 
bird and amphibian species in selected Great Lakes coastal wetlands located 
throughout southern and central Ontario, and potentially southeast Michigan and 
northwest Ohio. The contract duration is 21 March, 2011 to 15 July, 2011, and 
is based at Bird Studies Canada Headquarters at Port Rowan, ON. For more 
information, please view the job posting at 
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/about/jobs/index.jsp?lang=EN#WETLAND.



Sincerely,
Kathy Jones
Ontario Volunteer Coordinator

(Canadian Lakes Loon Survey)

Bird Studies Canada
P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan ON   N0E 1M0
Toll Free: 1-888-448-2473 ext. 124  Fax: 1-519-586-3532
E-mail: volunt...@birdscanada.org

Web Page: www.birdscanada.org


Understand  Appreciate  Conserve



See Avian Conservation and Ecology http://www.ace-eco.org/ for a special 
features on Aerial Insectivores



>From time to time, BSC may send you information regarding our programs, 
>special issues, membership, and other correspondence. If you would prefer not 
>to receive this information, please contact us by mail at the address above or 
>e-mail rkir...@bsc-eoc.org. Thank you.
Au cours de l'année, Études d'Oiseaux Canada envoie de la documentation 
concernant ses programmes, ses activités ou autres. Si vous désirez ne pas 
recevoir cette information, faites-nous parvenir un message par la poste ou par 
courrier électronique à rkir...@bsc-eoc.org.

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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial 
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

[Ontbirds] Northern Shrike at Point Pelee National Park

[Sarah . Rupert]

Greetings from the sunny, but cold southern Ontario!

I was first alerted to the presence of a Northern Shrike hanging around 
the Visitor Centre parking lot on Monday by local birder, Brad Ouellette. 
I kept my eyes peeled while entering the parking lot, but didn't see 
anything.  However, later Monday afternoon, the shrike blasted past my 
office window in hot pursuit of a sparrow (a new species for my office 
list).  I saw the bird once more on Monday and didn't see it at all 
yesterday, so I figured it had moved on.  I was pleasantly surprised this 
morning when I found it again while driving into the parking lot.  It 
seems to be favouring the area around the same gravel overflow parking lot 
to the west of the Visitor Centre, but have seen it in the smaller trees 
along the edge of the main parking lot.  A nice Pelee birder. 

There is also a Red-shouldered Hawk hanging around the park.  I saw it 
last week flying low right in front of the Visitor Centre and regularly 
see it between the Visitor Centre and DeLaurier.  We had a successful Owl 
Prowl program last week, with more than eight Screech-owls calling back 
each night and Great Horned Owls on both evenings as well.  I'm still 
hearing reports of Long-eared Owls roosting in spruce trees on E 
Concession just north of the park.

Looking forward to spring!
Good Birding Everyone!
Sarah

ps - the 25% off Annual Pass Sale is on now, until March 31st.  Get your 
annual pass renewed now and save!  Call 519-322-2365 for more information


Sarah Rupert
Sr. Park Interpreter, Interpretation Coordinator
Interprète de parc principale, Coordinatrice d'interprétation
Point Pelee National Park/Parc  national de la Pointe-Pelée
Parks Canada/Parcs Canada

519.322.5700 ext/poste 223
519.322.1678 (fax/téléc)
sarah.rup...@pc.gc.ca

www.pc.gc.ca
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial 
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/

[Ontbirds] Interesting Cardinal with Waterloo Varied Thrush

[Harold Stiver]

If you are going to look for the Varied Thrush, keep an eye out for the
female Northern Cardinals coming to the feeder. One of them has a bright red
eyebrow (See image
here)
I found a couple of similar birds on a Google Image search (both southern
ssp.). Most birds have a hint but not this drastic.

The gracious homeowner, Mr. Ewart, pointed out that the Varied Thrush seems
to be using Blue Jays for protection, coming to feed when they do. Of course
they are sentinel birds. I've posted a short
videoon
the Thrush, they always seem a bit pot bellied to me.

Directions from Ken Burrell’s post:
Exit the 401 at Hwy 8 north, take Hwy 85 north, towards Waterloo about 12km.
Exit Northfield Road, and go west. Following Northfield, turn right (north)
onto Weber street. Take Weber St. about a km and turn left onto Benjamin
Road. Take Benjamin all the way to Kressler Road (~5km). At Kressler, turn
left and take this to the first road (about 2km), which is Weimar Line. Turn
right onto Weimar and the house is the 3rd on the left #3218.


-- 
Harold Stiver
Paris, Canada
hsti...@gmail.com

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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial 
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/